Ollena Hayward moves into sight, her normally serene face flushed with fury.
“Mr. Cohen,” she says, her voice low and furious. “This is not how a Bonding Ceremony works.”
Throat dry, I stare at Sienna in desperation. Her pain is still pulsing as she stares blankly out across the crowd.
Have to finish it.
Turning to Ollena, I nod in deference. “There’s nothing in the Trial rules that says this isn’t allowed, Councilor.”
Self-loathing sits like ash on my tongue as Sienna flinches. The Councilor's mouth opens and closes several times as she glances between us. Finally, she settles on Sienna.
“Ms Michaels. Mr. Cohen is, in fact, correct. However, I strongly recommend that you withdraw from the Trials now. I would never normally offer this option so soon, but it’s clear there are… extenuating circumstances. We can find you another pack.”
Staunch refusal wars with hope in my chest. If Sienna withdraws, she’ll be safe and away from that fucking psychopath.
But she’ll be away from me.
Sienna moves her eyes slowly from Tristan and Alicia, settling on my face. I don’t look her in the eye, waiting for the words to come, dreading the moment they do.
“No.”
My head shoots up as Ollena gasps. “Ms Michaels—,”
“It’s my choice.” Her words are direct, even as her voice trembles. “And I choose to keep going.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Don’t be stupid,” I snarl at her. “Withdraw!”
This is her only fucking chance. Her one and only option is to pull out and be able to take part in future, and she’s turning it down.
But then, we’re her Soul Bonded.Fuck.
Sienna takes a breath, visibly pulling herself together as she nods to the omega Councilor. “I’m ready to continue.”
Ollena glances between us both, her mouth pursed, before she shakes her head and moves past us.
“Settle, please,” she calls out. “The Trial continues.”
I swear I hear a yelped “What the actual fuck” before the crowd quietens. Turning back to Sienna, I scan her face. She watches me just as carefully, the hope in her expression well and truly gone. She just looks… empty.
We did that to her.
“Sienna,” I breathe, stepping forward. “Why didn’t you withdraw?”
I drag her scent into my lungs, greedily inhaling every possible part of her I can.
“This isn’t right,” she whispers, and my head shoots up. “What?”
“This.” She gestures between us. “Youknowwhat we are.”
I hesitate, before I look away. If I say it, if I admit it out loud… I won’t be able to do this. And that makes me the worst type of fucking coward, but I can’t stop the thrill that whispers in my veins that she’s still here, that she didn’t choose to withdraw.
“You don’t know what you’re getting into,” I warn. I take another step, drinking in the way her cheeks flush as she looks up at me, the emptiness replaced by a familiar need that mirrors my own. “You should withdraw,” I whisper, leaning in and trailing my lips across her neck, tasting the flutter of her pulse, the spike of raspberries that makes me want to lick. To bite down. Fucking mouthwatering.
Sienna’s head tips back, a cascade of glorious pink spilling down her back, sprinkled with flowers like some goddamn fairytale creature.
“I know,” she murmurs. Her breathing stutters as my hand slides behind her neck, the possessive hold drawing the hint of a growl from my chest. I want this omega desperately. I’d walk through fire for her, do anything to make her smile, to see her spread out across my bed, to drink in the sound of her cries as I take her.
